LESSON 1 [ i ] as in me, tea , bee, and [

I ] as in it and pin

How to pronounce [ i ]

[ i ] is a long sound.

Lips: Tense and in a smile position

Jaw: Almost completely raised

Tongue: High, near the roof of the mouth

Possible pronunciation problems

Examples: If you say [ I ] instead of [ i ]
sheep will sound ship OR eat will sound it.
[ i ] [ I ]sheepshipeatit

Spelling
e

Ee

ea

ie or ie

He

See

east

Niece

We

feel

team

Piece

She

need

cheap

Either

Scene

heel

peach

Brief

These

agree

eagle

Belief

Word practice
[ i ] At the beginning

[ i ] In the middle

At the end

eat

Mean

Free

eel

Need

She

east

Scene

Key

each

Police

Tea

easy

Deep

Knee

each

Reach

Be

either

Please

Tree

Sentence/ phrase practice.

1.
2.
3.
4.

[ i ]

See
See
See
See

you at three
what I mean?
you next week.
you this evening.

Listen and repeat after your instructor.

5. Pleased to meet you.
6. Steve eats cream and cheese.
7. She has a reason for leaving.

Listening Practice
Listen and repeat. Circle the word in each group that does not have [ i ] sound.
1

Example :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

keep

lean

fit

piece

bead
eight
scene
need
police
pretty
people
tin
leave
steep

great
piece
women
been
thief
wheat
bread
teen
live
Steve

leave
believe
these
sleep
machine
sweet
deal
steam
leaf
easy

tea
niece
even
thirteen
vision
cream
east
receive
lease
still

Reading Practice
The Beatles
What is a Beatle? Maybe you think of a real creature that creeps and leaps about. But
most people recall four English teens called the Beatles, who appeared as a rock group in the
nineteen sixties. The Beatles created a unique beat that appealed to everyone. Seen on
American TV, they were greeted by screams and cheers. Please Please Me and She loves
you were among their many pieces. They even received an award from the queen of England.
The team broke up as they reached their peak, but each member continued their own career.
The world grieved the loss of their leader, John Lennon, who died in December 1980.
Although only briefly on the scene, the Beatles created meaningful music that will be here for
eternity.

How to pronounce [ I ]

[ I] is a short, quick sound

Lips: Relaxed and slightly parted

Jaw: Slightly lower than for [ i ]

[ i ]
Tongue: High, but lower than [ i ]
[ i ]
Remember not to smile and tense your lips when say [I] sound.

Possible pronunciation problems

Examples: If you say [i] instead of [I]: hit will sound heat OR itch will sound each.
[I][i]hitheatitcheach

Spelling
Y

ui

i
2

Gym

build

sin

Syrup

quick

lips

symbol

quilt

with

System

guilty

gift

Rhythm

guitar

differ

The most common spelling pattern for [ I] is letter i + final consonant.

win
this
hit
trip
begin
Rare spelling for [ I] has letters o,e,u and ee.
women
pretty
busy
been

Word practice
At the beginning

In the middle

Is

pin

Ink

miss

Instant

give

Inch

minute

If

little

Into

simple

Issue

winter

1.
2.
3.
4.

Sentence/ Phrase Practice

Listen and repeat after your
instructor.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

This is it.
What is this?
This is my sister.
This is Miss Smith.

10.

This is a big business.

I will sit in a minute.
Give the list to Lynn.
My little sister is timid.
Is the building finished?
10. Did you give him his gift?

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12.

Listening Practice.

13.
14.

Circle the number of the word with the vowel [I].

15.

Example

16.

You hear

mitt

You circle

meat

meat

17.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

18.

19.

Reading Practice

20.

21.
23.

They winter Olympics

22.

Since 1924, the Winter Olympics have been an international event. Now these

activities are seen by millions in television. Men and women from distant cities and countries
participate in this completion. They all wish to be winners. They ski downhill amidst pretty
scenery. Figure skaters spin to victory. Skill will make the difference. Some will finish with a
silver medal and some with a gold. But all win our hearts and infinite respect.
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25.

26. LESSON REVIEW: [i] AND [I]

27.

28.

Remember to smile and feel the tension in your lips when you say words
with [i] and RELAX your muscles when you say words with [ I].

29.

30. Word

Practice.

Listen and repeat.

31.

[i]

[I]

32.

1.

least

list

33.

2.

seat

sit

34.

3.

heat

hit

35.

4.

feet

fit

36.

5.

leave

live

37.

Sentence/Phrase Practice
38.

39.

Listen and repeat after your instructor.

40.

[i]
1. Heat it now

Hit it now.

2. Change the wheel.

Change the will.

3. Did you feel it?

Did you fill it?

4. The meal was big.

The mill was big.

5. He will leave.

He will live.

41.
42.

[I]

[i] [I] [I]

[i]

6. Please sit in the seat.

[I]
[i]
7. He did a good deed.
43. [I]
[i]
8. Phil doesnt feel well.
44. [I]
[i]
[i]
9. Lynn ate lean meat.
45.
[I]
[i]
10. Potato chips are cheap.

46.
47.

Listening Practice 1

48.
49.
50.

Listen and circle the word that you hear.

Example

51.

meat

mitt

1. field

filled

2. bean

bin

3. neat

knit

4. deal

dill

5. beat

bit

6. team

Tim

7. sleep

slip

8. green

grin

9. heel

hill

10. week

wick

After checking your answers, read each of the word aloud

pronounce them perfectly.

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53.

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Listening Practice 2
Listen. Circle the word that is used to complete each sentence.

until you

56.

Example

You need a new ( wheel / will ).

1. They cleaned the new ( ship / sheep ).

2. Will he ( leave / live ).
3. The boy was ( beaten / bitten ).
4. His clothes are ( neat / knit ).
5. She has plump ( cheeks / chicks ).
6. I like low ( heels / hills ).
7. The children will ( sleep / slip ).
8. I heard every ( beat / bit ).
9. The stored the ( beans / bins ).
10. Everyone talks about the ( heat / hit ).
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58.
After checking your answer, read each of the sentences aloud twice. Use
the first word the first time you read and the second word the second time.
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60.

Listening Practice 3

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62.

Listen and circle the words pronounced with [i]. Underline words with [ I].

63.

Jim:

64.

Tina: Yes, Jim. What is it?

65.

Jim:

Hi, Tina ! Do you have a minute?

My sister is in the city on business. We will eat dinner out tonight.

Can
66.

you recommend a place to eat?

67.

Tina: There is a fine seafood place on Fifth Street. The fish is fresh,

and the
68.

Shrimp is great. But it isnt cheap!

69.

Jim:

Thats OK. It will be feast today, famine tomorrow! Ill just have

to eat
70.

beans the rest of the week.

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72.

Now practice reading the dialogue aloud with a partner. Remember to

smile and tense your lips for [i] and relax them when pronouncing the [ I] words.
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